Fr Nate's Letter - September 8, 2024

I was recently sharing with someone that the first part of Fr. Simon’s sabbatical was a thirty-day silent retreat. At first they questioned me as to what that exactly meant, and I explained that it was thirty days free of media and technology - no evening news, no making phone calls or texting, no chatting back and forth. They seemed rather taken aback, maybe even a little horrified, at the prospect of doing something like that. And I remember when I talked to Fr. Simon shortly before he left, he told me that this retreat was his time to just listen to the Lord. It certainly led me to stop and consider for myself that in the midst of the day, how much time do we actually give to listening to the Lord?
 
Isn’t it true that if I am to truly listen to someone or something, I need to eliminate some of the other noise; otherwise I might hear but find it rather difficult to listen. I am reminded of something that a priest from Germany shared with me some years ago. During the Second World War, when those in charge wanted to corrupt the young in Germany, they made sure that the youth weren’t allowed silence. Their philosophy was that silence would allow the young people to think, or even to listen, and that deep within they would know right from wrong – which would be damaging to the cause. I often wonder how different our world might be if we had that silence in our lives. First, would we better hear the voice of God, and then, would we better listeners to one another? Silence seems to be something so many are afraid of, which makes you wonder: why?
 
We hear Jesus cure the deaf man in our Gospel, a poor man who suffered from a physical disability. It’s easy to imagine how grateful he must have been to suddenly be able to hear - what a gift! A gift that you and I might often take for granted. But couldn’t we also say that this miracle was an attempt to reach a crowd that might have suffered from another lack of hearing - not being able to listen to the Lord. It’s this group that the Lord was trying to reach in working this miracle, and it’s to them that the Lord also says “Ephphatha.” St. Mark is kind enough to tell us this means “be opened.” Each time a child is baptized in the Church, this story is brought to mind for those who gather when the priest prays what’s called the “Ephphatha prayers.” The priest or deacon blesses the ears of the infant and says, “May the Lord Jesus who made the deaf to hear and the mute to speak, grant that you may soon receive his word with your ear.” Hopefully this prayer prompts those gathered, priest and people alike, to consider: how much time do I give the Lord a chance to speak in the midst of each day?
 
I think we all know how important speaking and listening to one another is in any relationship. When this give and take is lacking, we know it’s often a sign of trouble on the horizon. In this noisy and busy world in which we live, one has to be very deliberate in making the time to listen. In curing the man of his physical disability, the Lord was hoping to reach those who are unable to hear spiritually. The Lord encourages you and me to make sure we’re listening and giving him the space to speak.
 
Don’t forget our Blessed Mother’s Birthday this weekend! Forgetting Mom’s birthday would be a fault that would be hard to forgive! 
 
Wishing you all God’s blessings this week! Keeping you in prayer, and say one for me!
 
- Fr. Nate